- Faculty of Science

Board of Studies


The Board of Studies is responsible to Senate for all matters relating to the organisation of education, teaching and research in the Faculty, including all examination matters.

Secretary to the Board : If you would like further information about the Board of Studies for the Faculty of Science, please contact Elizabeth Bird (ext 3433, email E.F.Bird@bath.ac.uk).

Membership 2008/09
Terms of office expire on 31st July.

Professor G Breakwell Vice-Chancellor
ex-officio
Professor C Jennison Chair, Dean
ex-officio

Heads of Departments in the Faculty:

Professor J C Knight Physics
ex-officio
Professor N F Britton Mathematical Sciences
ex-officio
Dr R Hooley Biology and Biochemistry
ex-officio
Dr G J Price Chemistry
ex-officio
Professor R M Tyrrell Pharmacy and Pharmacology
ex-officio
Professor P J Willis Computer Science
ex-officio

 

Nine members elected by and from the Academic Assembly members of the Faculty (to include at least one from each Department in the Faculty):

Dr I S Blagbrough Pharmacy & Pharmacology 2009
Dr B Delgado-Charro Pharmacy & Pharmacology 2011
Dr S Harris Mathematical Sciences 2009
Dr M Hejmadi Biology & Biochemistry 2010
Dr A C Jeffries Biology & Biochemistry 2009
Dr E O'Neill Computer Science 2010
Dr J Sivaloganathan Mathematical Sciences 2009
Professor I H Williams Chemistry/Natural Sciences 2010
Dr D Wolverson Physics 2011

Co-opted Members (up to 5):

Chair of the Faculty Research Students' Committee:

Professor G A McCusker Computer Science

Chair of the Faculty Teaching & Quality Committee:

Dr F R Laughton Physics

Student Members:

Georgios-Konstantinos Charonis Physics
Andrew Crawshaw Chemistry
Alexander Pool Biology & Biochemistry

 

Representatives from other Faculties/Schools:

Dr W M Megill Faculty of Engineering & Design
Dr M J Brosnan Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Dr Y T Chang School of Management
Dr C Wilson School for Health

 

Terms of Reference
Approved by Privy Council 1966.

See http://www.bath.ac.uk/universitysecretary/secretariat/GovStructured-dec08pdf for how Boards of Studies fit into the Council/Senate Governance Structure.

The functions of Boards of Studies are prescribed by Section 20.1 of the Statutes. In this context "School" refers to the Faculty.

20.1 There shall be a Board of Studies of each School which shall have the following functions:

  1. To advise and report to the Senate on all matters relating to the organisation of education, teaching and research in the subjects of the School, including curricula and examinations.
  2. To consider the progress of Students in the School and to report to the Senate thereon.
  3. To recommend to the Senate persons for appointment as internal and external examiners in the subjects of the School.
  4. To consider and where necessary take action on any matters which may be referred to it by the Senate.
  5. To advise and recommend to the Senate on financial matters which affect the academic policy of the School.
  6. To carry out any functions which may be given to or imposed on it by the Ordinances.

Key Functions

In order to discharge their statutory obligations, Board of Studies will be responsible to Senate for the following key functions:

(1) the development, implementation and evaluation of the Faculty's strategic plan and the approval of Departmental Strategic Plans;

(2) the approval and evaluation of strategies for Learning & Teaching, Research, and Widening Participation;

(3) the academic standards and quality of the education, teaching and research across the Faculty, including the submission of an annual report on QA issues to Senate (via the Quality Assurance Committee) and the dissemination of good practice;

(4) the audit of departmental implementation of institutional quality assurance and academic frameworks, including systematic monitoring of performance indicators and receipt of degree scheme review reports from the Faculty Teaching and Quality Committee;

(5) the strategic consideration of all new programme proposals, including the rigour of the underpinning market research, the student choice available and the strategic fit of the proposal;

(6) the appointment of External Examiners and Visiting Academic Staff under delegated powers from Senate;

(7) the award of degrees on the recommendation of Boards of Examiners for Programmes, under delegated powers from Senate;

(8) the monitoring of the progress of individual students via reports from the Boards of Examiners for Programmes, under delegated powers from Senate;

(9) the appointment of Directors of Studies and Heads of Group and the establishment of Groups under powers conferred by Ordinances;

(10) the approval of minor and intermediate changes to existing programmes of study;

(11) the establishment of new academic prizes, under delegated powers from Senate;

(12) the approval of secondary academic appointments, Associate Lecturers and Honorary appointments;

(13) the conduct and outcomes of academic reviews;

(14) the receipt and consideration of reports from the Departments in the Faculty.

 

In addition the Board of Studies will be responsible for Research Strategy.


(1) the development, promotion and enhancement of the Faculty's Research Strategy;

(2) the identification of emerging disciplines and niche research markets and monitoring of the Faculty's research capability;

(3) the promotion of inter-departmental, multi-disciplinary research and the co-ordination of bids for external funding (as appropriate);

(4) the systematic analysis of research-related performance indicators, including publications, research income, and completion rates for research degrees;

(5) the development of common promotional and marketing materials, as appropriate, for research, CPD and consultancy;

(6) the co-ordination and overview of the Faculty's RAE submission (or any subsequent national methodology for selective research funding);

(7) the establishment of new research centres;

(8) the consideration of any issues referred to the Committee by the Senate, University Research Committee, or other authoritative University Committee.

Each Board of Studies will establish the following sub-committees:

Teaching & Quality

Research Students

Academic Review

Boards of Examiners for Programmes

Boards of Examiners for Postgraduate Research Students

Dates and Minutes of Meetings

2008/2009


2007/2008


2006/2007

2005/2006


Please note that the summaries and minutes of meetings of the Board of Studies for the Faculty of Science published above exclude information which the University has declared will not be routinely published under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  Further information about the Act (including the reasons why such information is exempt from publication) is available at http://www.bath.ac.uk/foi/faqs-staff-general.htm.  If you have any queries about business conducted by the Committee and cannot find reference to it in the summaries/minutes published here, please contact Elizabeth Bird, Faculty Executive Assistant, (ext 3433, email E.F.Bird@bath.ac.uk).

Procedural Rules

Standing Orders: Board of Studies Standing Orders - http://www.bath.ac.uk/orders/bos/
Appointment of Chair: The Dean of Faculty (Section 8.4 of the Statutes).
Appointment Of Vice-Chair: See Standing Order 4(a).
Membership: See Ordinance 10.
Co-options: Up to five, see Ordinance 10.
Alternates: See Standing Order 1(b).  For ex-officio members only - allowed at the discretion of the person nominating.
Quorum: See Section 28.1(iv) of the Statutes and Standing Order 4(b-d).
Rules for voting: See Standing Orders 9 and 10.
Minutes: Submitted to Senate.

Other relevant links/reference material:

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